Vapor-generator.



Eel 746,914. PATENTEDDEC.15,1903..

E. H. BATES.

' VAPOR GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 9, 1903.

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NiTE STATES;

Patented December 15, 1903.

I PATENT OFFICE.

VAPOR-GEN ERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,914, dated December 5, 1903. Application filed March 9, 1903. Serial No. 146,917. (No model.)

hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of vapor or gas generators designed for use in connection with explosive-engines, the connection between the two being such that they are mutually operative, the engine furnishing its exhaust-gases to the generator as the heating medium to vaporize the oil and the generator supplying its vapors to the engine to drive the latter. In generators of this class,particularly those intended for use with the heavier hydrocarbons, which are included under the general term of crude oil, the two principal considerations are the course of the heating medium and the path of the oil. The former must be one Well distributed over the surface to be heated and capable of. control at desired points. The latter must be as extensive as possible and free from obstructions, so that the flow of the oil may be uninterrupted, continuous, and long enough in point of time to enable the largest amount of volatile products to be driven ofi, thereby reducingthe resid ue to a mass containing little, if any, volatilizable matters; but even under very favorable conditions it is found that with oils having great specific gravity and with necessarily extensive and tortuous paths for its flow interruptions due to clogging carbonization in the path occur, so that itis necessary atmore or less frequent intervals to clean the path out.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide, in connection with an improved oil path, a simple, effective, convenient, and economical means for cleaning said'path.

Another object is to provide, in connection with a vapor-generating chamber, a novel course for the heating medium and its proper control.

A third object is to provide for the free drain or discharge of the residue from the generating-chamber to the vessel or receptacle which receives it, and a final object is to prevent the entrained oil from being carried over with the vapor to the engine.

My invention consists in the novel constructions,arrangements,and combinations of parts which I shall now describe and claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the generator. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the lower 'end of'same. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on line as m of Fig. 1. Fig. t is an elevation of the upper end. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the generator, on a reduced scale, showing the residue pot or receptacle and its connections. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the scraper. Fig. 7 is a face view of same.

A is the casing of the generator, preferably cylindrical and horizontally disposed on the feet a. Within the casing is a hollow shell B, Figs. 1 and 5, also preferably cylindrical and forming the vaporizing-chamber. shell is of sufficiently smaller diameter than the casing to leave a circumscribing space a, which forms the heating-chamber, and said shell is disposed in the casing with its longitudinal axis at an angle to the, longitudinal axis of thecasing, as seen in Fig. 1, so that the shell slopes from one end to the other, and it has a length equal to that of the casing. In practice both shell and easing are one casting, though this is not essential.

0 represents the heads which cover the ends of both casing and shell.

On the interior of the shell is a web I), helically directed throughout its length,the width of the web in the bottom coils being greater than elsewhere and extending across in substantially a horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 3 at b. In these bottom wide coils of the web are made ports b the port in one coil being near one side and the port in thenext coil being near the other side,and so on, alternating from side to side or staggering throughout.

Mounted in the heads O and extending through the shell B in the line of its axis is a shaft D,which can be turned axially by means of a hand-wheel E on one of its projecting ends. Y On this shaft is a longitudinal feather d, and mounted on said shaft and adapted to slide on its feather is a scraper F of any suitable form,though preferably adisk. The outer This ICO

edge of this scraper fits between the coils of the helical web I), the fit being snug enough to adapt it to clear out'the spaces of the web without interfering with the turning of said scraper. The edge of the scraper may be fashioned to fit one or more of the inter-coil spaces, as may be desired. A desirable construction is, as here shown in Figs. 1, 6, and 7, to form the periphery of the scraper with a middlefull portion f, flanked by a serrated portion f, the latter acting as cutters to loosen the clogging material and the former serving to push or carry said loosened material along.

Leading into the head end of the shell is the entrance-passage G for the oil, and issuing from its lower end is the drain G for the discharge of the non-volatilizable residue. From the upper part of the lower end of the shell is the exit G for the vapors generated.

At the head end of the shell at the upper portion is the air-inlet G and in the lower portion of said end is a discharge G for some of the scrapings, as I shall describe.

H is the inlet for the heated or exhaust gases to the casing-space or heating-chamber a, and H is the exit for said gases. -Within space a is a horizontal diaphragm o Figs. 2 and 3, which directs the heated or exhaust gases first down to the lower part of space a to carry them into proximity to the coil in the bottom of the shell. In the diaphragm a are ports a", set at intervals and controlled by dampers a whereby the heat may be controlled at points desired by passing it up to the space above the diaphragm sooner or later, as may be desired.

The operation is as follows: The oil is fed as required through passage G to the head of the oil-path formed between the coils of the helical web bin shell B. It is delivered into the base of the first inter-coil space of Web I) and by gravity, due to the general slope of the shell, flows through the first port 19 into the next coil-space, thence passing in said space to the opposite side it flows through the next port b into the succeeding space, thence over to the other side to the next port, and so on down throughout the oil-path in the shell, thus traversing a tortuous and long course, during which its volatilizable vapors are drawn off by the heat obtained from the exhaust gases in space a and which enters through inlet H.

In all the so-called crude-oil generators there is necessity not only to dispose of the residue that is, the part left after the vapors have been driven offbut also to provide for the disposition of that part which carbonizes during the flow of the oil and remains in and clogs up the oil path or channel. In devices wherein all the parts are stationary provision is made for obtaining access to the oil-path to clear it, and for this purpose such constructions are made which permit the machine to be opened up in whole or in part to reach the oil-channel. In other devices the end is sought by making the oilpathitself continuously rotatable with a view to keeping the flow incessant or the material agitated or otherwise to prevent or to avoid the clogging accumulations in the oil-path. In both forms of machines economy of construction or of time is lost, the one entailing delay and labor in cleaning and the other requiring special and nice constructions and adjustments for rotary joints, journals, stufiing-boxes, &c., and the loss of power in operating them. The necessary cleaningin my device is both quickly and efiiciently accomplished by simply turning the hand-wheel E at such times as may be required. This turns shaft D and its scraper F, which latter, engaging in the coils of the helical web 1), travels along the feather d of the shaft, and thus advances in and scrapes the entire length of the oil-path and cleans it, bringing the solid and non volatilizable matter and residue down to the drain G. Then by turning in the reverse direction the scraper travels back again to the head and discharges such scrapings as it may loosen at the head-discharge G In order to permit the scraper to be operated while the generator is at work, I provide small holes f through its body, Figs. 6 and 7. These permit the air and vapor to pass through it to their outlet even while the scraper is advancing or traveling in the shell. These holes serve a further useful purpose, as follows: They will separate and catch or throw down the entrained oil and prevent it from carrying over with the vapor through the outlet G Itis best, therefore, in practice to let the scraper remain when not in use at or near the lower end of the shell B, whereby the vapor generated must pass through its perforations to the outlet G and thus any entrained oil will be separated and caught. The heating-gases are under good control and may be directed as extensively and well distributed as may be required.

In generators of this type in which the heat is supplied by the exhaust-gases from the engine and the non-volatilizable residue of. the oil is drained from the vapor-chamber a difficulty is met with in the effect of the withdrawal ot' the vapors by the engine, retarding the proper draining-discharge of the residue. The sucking action of the engine (so to speak of it) in withdrawingthe vapors prevents the free drainage of the residue. To remedy this, I lead the residue exit or drain G into-a closed pot J, as shown in Fig. 5,which said pet has a communication through a pipe K with the exit-pipe G from the generator to the engine. This equalizes the pressure in the pot, and the residue will pass freely into it. When the pot is full, the connections G and K are closed by the cocks g and k, and after openingan air-ventj in the pot the contents may be freely drawn out through the pot-drain j. If it be desired to make the pot discharge more freely than under atmospheric pressure, compressed air may he introduced through ventj. It is preferable to IIO connect the cooks g and k by a rod g and single lever 70 to insure the connections G and K being controlled simultaneously.

' her having within it a helical web forming a continuous oil-path, in combination with a scraper engaging the coils of the web and means for advancing the scraper through the oil-path to clean it.

2. In a vapor-generator a vaporizing-chamber having within it a helical web forming a continuous oil-path in combination with a scraper-disk engaging with its periphery the coils of the web, and having holes through its body, and means for advancing the scrapendisk through the oil-path to clean it.

3. In a vapor-generator a vaporizing-chamher having within it a longitudinally-(iirected helical web forming between its coils in the bottom of the chamber a continuous oil-path, in combination with a scraper engaging the coils of the web and means for advancing said scraper therethrough to clean said oilpath.

t. In a vapor-generator a vaporizing-chamberhaving within it a longitudinally-directed helical web and forming between its bottom coils a continuous oil-path, in combination with a scraper engaging the coils of the web, and a rotatable shaft in said chamber having a feather upon which the scraper is slidably mounted whereby said scraper may be ad vanced through the web to clean the oil-path.

5. In a vapor-generator, the combinationof a longitudinallyinclined vaporizing-chamber having within it a longitudinally-directed helical web, the coils of which at their lower portions form between them a continuous oilpath, a scraper engaging said helical web and means for advancing said scraper in the web to clean the oil-path.

6. In a vapor-generator, the combination of a longitudinally inclined vaporizing -cham her having within it a longitudinally-directed helical web, the coils of which at their lower portions form between them a continuous oilpath, a scraper-disk engaging said helical web with its periphery and having holes through its body and means for advancing said scraper in the web to clean the oil-path.

7. In a vapor-generator the combination of an inclined vaporizing-chamber having within it a longitudinallydirected helical web, the coils of whichat their lower portions have ports at alternately opposite sides and form between them a tortuous continuous oil-path, a scraper engaging said helical web, and means for advancing the scraper in the web to clean the oil-path.

8. Inavapor-generator, the combination of a longitudinally-inclined vaporizing-chamher having within it alongitudinally-directedhelical web, the coils of which at their lower portions form between them a continuous oil-v .to clean the oil-path.

in it a longitudinally-(iirected helical web, the

coils of which at their lower portions have ports at alternately opposite sides and form between them a tortuous continuous oil-path, a scraper engaging said helical web, and means for advancing the scraper in the web to clean the oil-path consisting of a rotatable shaft extending through the chamber and having a continuous feather upon which the scraper is slidably mounted.

10. In a vapor-generator the combination of an outer casing, an inner shell with its axis inclined to that of the casing and sufiiciently smaller in diameter to leave a circumscribing space for the heating medium, said shell forming the vapor-generating chamber and having within it a longitudinally-directed,

helical web, the bottom coils of which form between them a continuous oil-path, a scraper engaging said helical web and means for advancing said scraper in the web to clean the oil-path. r

11. In a vapor-generator,the combination of an outer casing, an inner shell with its axis inclined to that of the casing and sufficiently smaller in diameter to leave a circumscribing space for the heating medium, said shell forming the vaporizing-chamber and having within it a suitable oil-path, and a diaphragm dividing the. circumscribing heating-space horizontally and provided with controllable ports for directing the heating medium in said space. v

12. In a vapor-generator,the combination of an outer heating-casing, an inner vaporizingshell with its axis inclined to that of the casing and sufficiently smaller in diameter to leave a circumscribing space for the heating medium, a diaphragm dividing said space horizontally and provided with controllable ports for directing the heating medium, an inlet for the heating medium below the diaphragm and an exit above it, a longitudinally-directed helical web on the inner surface of the inner shell, the bottom coils of which form between them a continuous oilpath, a scraper engaging said helical web and means for advancing said scraper in the web 13. In a vapor-generator,the combination of a vaporizing-chamber having within it a longitudinally-directed helical web the coils of which form between them a continuous oilpath, and a traveling scraper engaging said helical web and consisting of a disk having one portion of the thickness of its rim serrated and another portion full substantially as described.

14. In avapor-generator,the combination of & 746,914

a vaporizing-chamber having an oil-inlet, a the pressurein the receptacle is equalized and drain for the residue and an exit for the "athe flow of the residue thereto facilitated. IO pors, a heating-chamber having an inlet for In witness whereof I have hereunto set my the heating medium and an exhaust therefor, hand.

a normally tight receptacle for the oil residue FRANK H. BATES. connected with the drain of the vaporizing- Witnesses:

chamber, and a connection between said re- WALTER F. VANE,

ceptacle and the vapor-exit passage whereby D. B. RICHARDS. 

